Sometimes this transition in thinking begins in one domain before another. In relationships, for instance,
people may realize that they don’t have
to always be showing off and seeking to
impress their partner. Or they find out
that they don’t have to exhaust themselves providing support in certain
friendships. Or they discover they don’t
have to placate every demand their parents make of them. Yet this transition
in thinking about work can take longer,
especially among attorneys.

SEEKING SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE

Achievement 201 can be as productive
as Achievement 101, but more importantly it is enduring and the process
is gratifying. The first principle is that
you can’t do it alone. For work tasks it
means asking for help. The saying “if
you want something done right, do
it yourself” may often be true, but it
doesn’t have legs. Seeking assistance
will often take the form of the helpful
paralegal, co-counsel, or associate.
Or it may take the form of the supportive mentor attorney, supervisor,
colleague, law school classmate, or
section member—people for whom
you don’t have to hold up a superior
image of completeness but can be your
flawed, candid, worthy self, unafraid to
ask questions.

Professional support is important,
but it’s not complete—it really takes
an army to harness a career. This
can include a personal trainer, psychotherapist, barista, massage therapist, office management consultant,
accountant, financial advisor, chiropractor, yoga teacher, waiter, etc.
When I see my barber, I spend 20
minutes knowing that he has my back
and it means a lot. I feel refueled to
fight the good fight.

HEALTHY SELF-CARE

Psychologist Philip Zimbardo, in hisbook "The Time Paradox," looks atpresent-hedonism not as a selfish ori-entation but as a healthy element ofself-care. Are you engaging in activ-ities that help you feel vital, energetic,and capable of taking on challeng-es? Whether it is eating out for lunchevery so often, or shopping for theclothes that keep you feeling fresh, ormaintaining a dedicated bond withyour elliptical machine, there is ob-vious merit in knowing what it takesfor you to feel like yourself, “on,” andnot a spent, overworked, and confusedattorney, wondering when this profes-sional tornado will abate.The shift is not just towards healthyactivities, but is really an adjustment toa different identity, from the one-trickpony who sacrifices wellbeing becauseyou lack insight into what else youcould be doing, to the multifaceted pro-fessional who is passionate about yourwork and knows what it takes to fuelyour practice.WORTH THE SACRIFICEI’ve used the word “sacrifice” twicenow and there is a point. If you makeyourself into a pack mule, all kindsof passive aggression will follow. Youmight compare the hours you work tothat of your colleagues with great pre-cision, proving your sacrifice and yourresentment for them. You may becomeirritated by your clients who do notseem sufficiently appreciative of yourefforts. You might resent the familyyou are working so hard to providefor. You might be annoyed at happypeople who seem to have it easy. Youmay envy street sweepers whose jobappears simple.Lawyers can be their own worst enemies,always expecting more of themselves.